Tipperary's Cara Darmody set to meet Taoiseach following successful Dáil motion on autism

Adrfinnan's Cara Darmody is to meet the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, in the coming weeks, it has been revealed.

The meeting comes following a successful Labour Party Private Member's motion in the Dáil last week on autism which received cross-party support, and which forced a change in policy from Minister Anne Rabbitte, the Darmody family from Ardfinnan, led by Cara, sought a meeting with the Taoiseach to ensure that the changes they seek will be followed through on.

Cara who is doing the Leaving Cert to highlight the issues with access to autism services was adamant that she wanted to meet the Taoiseach.

The meeting has now been arranged by Tipperary Labour TD Alan Kelly.

"I asked the Taoiseach to meet with the Darmodys and he has confirmed to me that he will, indeed, meet Cara and the Darmody family in the coming weeks," said Deputy Kelly. "I’m delighted that this is happening."

Deputy Kelly said that this came after he highlighted the precedent that was set by Cara’s brother Neil getting his private assessment of needs paid for by the HSE, yet other families were being treated differently.

"Minister Rabbitte acknowledged that this was an issue and said that if plans for six regional centres are not up and running by August 1 then she will look for all assessment of needs that are taking longer than three months to be paid for by the State," he said.